Among the “missing workers” in the US economy, those no longer looking for work thus not showing up in government unemployment numbers, women are part of that growing trend. Unlike other Western economies that offer supportive family policies, women’s economical destinies in the US are burdened by their caregiver responsibilities to their families and extended families, not the by criminal records or disabilities affecting men. One economist calls it the “care chasm” and some analysts recommend focusing on job quality instead of men who are work non-participants to bring more people back into the country’s economy.

Facebook doubles bereavement leave to 20 days for workers who lose an immediate family member and 10 days for the death of an extended family member. COO Sheryl Sandberg posted that it makes the economy and nation stronger is people are allowed to grieve for the loss of loved ones.

While men get a “fatherhood bonus” of 6% for every child they have, women get a 4% “motherhood penalty” and, for high-skill, high-paid women workers, that income penalty rises to 10% according to research published in the American Sociological Review. Earlier research found that women with “high-honor” undergraduate or advanced degrees, 69% of women would not have left their jobs to raise a family if they had the flexibility to do both. But even when flexibility is there for women, exercising that benefit is not advantageous to them, others perceiving taking time off to care for children the equivalent of taking a vacation. Finally, while working mothers’ competencies are 10% lower than their single counterparts, studies have shown that mothers are more productive workers.

Among the “missing workers” in the US economy, those no longer looking for work thus not showing up in government unemployment numbers, women are part of that growing trend. Unlike other Western economies that offer supportive family policies, women’s economical destinies in the US are being limited by lack of support for their caregiver responsibilities, not the by criminal records or disabilities affecting men. One economist calls it the “care chasm” and addressing it could bring more women into the workforce.

The US ranks last of all developed countries in requiring paid family leave, leaving 100 million-plus employees without that benefit, resulting in 25% of new mothers returning to work 10 days after having a child. An advocacy group reports that 60 of the nation’s companies having the most employees either do not have or would not disclose their parental leave policy. In 2016, the trend continued for individual cities and states, and privately and publicly held companies (Etsy, EY [formerly Ernst & Young], Coca-Cola Company, American Express, Ikea, BASF) leading the way in expanding mandated parental leave. Research continues to find that the expense of such policies is more than offset by increasing the ability to attract and keep talent, reducing the costs of turnover, and increasing diversity.